5 | Learning centres A workplace learning centre can be a valuable resource and an ideal focus for learning activity. What constitutes a learning centre is open to debate, but there is a general expectation these days that it will include a number of computers with internet access. This being the case learning centres usually come with costs attached, both for initial purchase of equipment and its ongoing maintenance, provision of up to date resources and broadband connection. This means that learning centres tend to be a feature of large workplaces but can be equally successful in small workplaces. The work involved in setting up, maintaining and supporting the centre means that they should be considered as part of a long-term joint commitment to learning. Sometimes, well-provisioned workplace learning centres are not fully used. This is often because learners are not adequately supported in the centre and so are unsure about what is on offer, how to access it or what to do when they run into problems. It does not mean there is no appetite for learning. ULRs can play a pivotal role in avoiding under-use by promoting the centre, working in it to support the learners and researching learners’ needs to ensure that the centre provides opportunities that are appropriate and attractive to all employees.
What constitutes a learning centre is open to debate, but there is a general expectation these days that it will include a number of computers with internet access.
Also, although the convenience of a workplace learning centre can help to address many barriers to learning, workers with busy lives may still face problems in making time to learn. To make the learning centre successful, it may be necessary to build paid time off into learning agreements. This could be for the full course duration, a fixed number of hours per learner or a matched arrangement where learners’ own time is equalled by paid time off. The joint learning committee should monitor usage of the centre and establish procedures to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the learning that it provides.
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Delivering better learning agreements